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Lord Blease: My Lords, perhaps the noble Lord can deal with a further matter at the same time. Does the order in any way encompass anything to do with law and order or decommissioning in the future in Northern Ireland? If decommissioning has not come into any of these orders, is it not then a matter for the standing Northern Ireland government, even under the devolved system?
Lord Dubs: My Lords, this order does not deal with criminal justice, prisons, police or security. Decommissioning was not the specific responsibility of any department, so it does not fit with the noble Lord's
question. Essentially, criminal justice and those other matters are reserved powers and will stay the responsibility of the Secretary of State.As regards the question about agriculture, yes, the noble Lord is right in saying that food, agrifood development, science, veterinary matters, rural development, forestry, sea fisheries and so on all come within the new Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Inland fisheries will go to the new Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, although sea fisheries will stay with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
As regards the responsibility for horse racing and related matters, I will write to the noble Lord. It was not totally clear quite where the responsibility lay; it has lain with more than one department up to now. I think I will be more accurate if I write to him.
May I conclude by thanking your Lordships for your contributions to the debate. I commend the order to the House.
On Question, Motion agreed to.
- House adjourned at nine o'clock.
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